Buttress attachment to the cartridge surface

ABSTRACT

An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation application which claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/450,872,filed Mar. 6, 2017, which is a Continuation application which claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/990,213,filed Jan. 7, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,597,077, which is a Continuationapplication which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/719,630, filed on Dec. 19, 2012, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,237,892, which is a Continuation-in-Part application which claimsthe benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/586,261, filed on Aug. 15, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,732, whichis a Continuation-in-Part application which claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/325,481, filed Dec. 14,2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,731, the entire disclosures of each ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatus includingsurgical buttresses which can be releasably attached to the surgicalstapling apparatus, and in particular, to surgical stapling apparatushaving adhesive member disposed on a tissue contacting surface of thesurgical stapling apparatus to join the surgical buttresses thereto.

2. Background of Related Art

Surgical stapling apparatus are employed by surgeons to sequentially orsimultaneously apply one or more rows of fasteners, e.g., staples ortwo-part fasteners, to body tissue for the purpose of joining segmentsof body tissue together. Such apparatus generally include a pair of jawsor finger-like structures between which the body tissue to be joined isplaced. When the stapling apparatus is actuated, or “fired”,longitudinally moving firing bars contact staple drive members in one ofthe jaws. The staple drive members push the surgical staples through thebody tissue and into an anvil in the opposite jaw which forms thestaples. If tissue is to be removed or separated, a knife blade can beprovided in the jaws of the apparatus to cut the tissue between thelines of staples.

A number of surgical stapling apparatus rely on a knife blade cuttingoff some portion of the surgical buttress to affect release. Thesemethods typically employ a secondary material or mounting structure inaddition to the surgical buttress (e.g., sutures) to provide attachmentof the surgical buttress to the surgical stapling apparatus. Typically,firing forces are increased with each material that must be transectedby the knife blade in order to release the surgical buttress.

It would be desirable to provide a surgical buttress that may bereleasably secured to a surgical stapling apparatus without the need fora secondary material or mounting structure, and without the need for aknife blade to cut the buttress and/or mounting structure to release thesurgical buttress from the surgical stapling apparatus, therebyresulting in the use of fewer materials and lower firing forces.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an end effectorassembly for use with a surgical stapler wherein the end effectorcomprises a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defininga central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissuecontacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgicalbuttress is releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces ofeach of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape isdisposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staplecartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgicalbuttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface. Preferably, thesurgical buttress is laser welded to the adhesive tape.

The adhesive tape is secured to the tissue contacting surfaces of eachof the staple cartridge and anvil plate surrounding the edges of therespective central longitudinal slots. Additionally, the adhesive tapeextends longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end of thetissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvilplate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a staplecartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus wherein the staplecartridge comprises a cartridge body including a tissue contactingsurface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots and having acentral longitudinal slot and a staple disposed within each stapleretaining slot of the cartridge body. A surgical buttress is releasablydisposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge body. Anadhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of thecartridge body and configured to retain the surgical buttress atop thetissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. Preferably, thesurgical buttress is laser welded to the adhesive tape.

The adhesive tape is secured to the tissue contacting surface of thecartridge body surrounding the edges of the central longitudinal slot.Additionally, the adhesive tape extends longitudinally between aproximal end and a distal end of the tissue contacting surface of thecartridge body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgicalstapling apparatus wherein the surgical stapling apparatus comprises ahousing and an end effector being secured to the housing having a staplecartridge assembly having a tissue contacting surface and an anvilassembly having a tissue contacting surface, each of the staplecartridge assembly and anvil assembly having a central longitudinalslot. A surgical buttress is releasably disposed on the tissuecontacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge assembly and anvilassembly. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinalslot of each of the staple cartridge assembly and anvil assembly andconfigured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respectivetissue contacting surface. Preferably, the surgical buttress is laserwelded to the adhesive tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed interlocking buttressretention systems are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of a staplecartridge assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 1,illustrating a surgical buttress associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of an anvil assemblyof the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating a surgicalbuttress associated therewith;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the staple cartridge assembly,illustrating the surgical buttress affixed to a staple cartridge;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the anvil assembly, illustrating thesurgical buttress affixed to an anvil plate;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal end of the surgical staplingapparatus of FIG. 1, shown in use positioned about a tissue section;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stapled and divided tissue sectionof FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of asurgical stapling apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of thesurgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of thestaple cartridge assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 9Aincluding a surgical buttress in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 10B is a top plan view of the staple cartridge assembly andsurgical buttress illustrated in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is perspective view of an intestinal area of a patient,illustrating a method of positioning an anvil rod and staple cartridgeassembly of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10within the intestinal area; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the intestinal area of FIG.11, illustrating the anvil rod mounted to the surgical staplingapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are discussedherein below in terms of buttresses for use with surgical staplingapparatus. The buttresses described herein may be used in sealing awound by approximating the edges of wound tissue between a staplecartridge and an anvil plate of a surgical stapling apparatus whichcontains at least one surgical buttress. The at least one surgicalbuttress is joined to the surgical stapling apparatus by a strategicallyplaced adhesive member, which can be an adhesive tape. The adhesivemember is placed adjacent a central longitudinal slot and positionedbetween a tissue contacting surface of each of the staple cartridge andanvil plate and the least one surgical buttress. Firing of the surgicalstapling apparatus forces legs of at least one staple to pass through anopening on the staple cartridge, the tissue, and the openings on theanvil plate to secure the surgical buttress to the tissue, to secure theadjoining tissue to one another. The buttress can help seal the tissue,and support the tissue. The firing force of the staple impacts theadhesive member to break the bond between the adhesive member and thesurgical buttress thereby releasing the surgical buttress from thetissue contacting surface. As a knife blade translates distally withinthe central longitudinal slot, the adhesive tape is cut and fullyreleases the surgical buttress from the tissue contacting surface. Thus,the present disclosure describes surgical buttresses, surgical staplingapparatus supporting said surgical buttresses, and methods andmechanisms for using the same.

It should be understood that a variety of surgical stapling apparatusmay be utilized with a surgical buttress of the present disclosure. Forexample, linear stapler configurations may be utilized, such as, forexample those including Duet TRS' reloads and staplers with Tri-Staple™technology, available through Covidien, which maintain a principal placeof business at 555 Long Wharf Drive, North Haven, Conn. 06511, andtransverse anastomosis staplers, such as, for example, EEA™, CEEA™,GIA™, EndoGIA™, and TA™ staplers, also available through Covidien. Itshould also be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosureare equally applicable to surgical staplers having alternateconfigurations, such as, for example, end-to-end anastomosis staplershaving a circular cartridge and anvil (see, e.g., commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 5,915,616, entitled “Surgical Fastener Applying Apparatus,” theentire content of which is incorporated herein by this reference);laparoscopic staplers (see, e.g., commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,330,965 and 6,241,139, each entitled “Surgical Stapling Apparatus,”the entire contents of each of which being incorporated herein by thisreference); and transverse anastomosis staplers (see, e.g., commonlyowned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,964,394 and 7,334,717, each entitled “SurgicalFastener Applying Apparatus”, the entire contents of each of which beingincorporated herein by this reference).

Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical buttress and surgicalstapling apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to thedrawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar oridentical elements. In the following discussion, the terms “proximal”and “trailing” may be employed interchangeably, and should be understoodas referring to the portion of a structure that is closer to a clinicianduring proper use. The terms “distal” and “leading” may also be employedinterchangeably, and should be understood as referring to the portion ofa structure that is further from the clinician during proper use. Asused herein, the term “patient” should be understood as referring to ahuman subject or other animal, and the term “clinician” should beunderstood as referring to a doctor, nurse, or other care provider andmay include support personnel.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is disclosed an exemplary surgicalstapling apparatus or surgical stapler 10 for use in stapling tissue andapplying a buttress material or surgical buttress to the tissue. Afurther example of this type of surgical stapling instrument isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,253, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein. The surgical stapling instrument canhave a removable and replaceable loading unit that includes thecartridge assembly and anvil assembly, a surgical stapling instrumentwith a removable and replaceable cartridge assembly, or both. Thesurgical stapling instrument may have a manually driven handle assemblyor a handle assembly that is powered by electrical motor, pressurizedgas or other fluid, etc.

Surgical stapling apparatus 10 generally includes a handle 12 having anelongate tubular member 14 extending distally from handle 12. An endeffector assembly 16 is mounted on a distal end 18 of elongate tubularmember 14. End effector assembly 16 includes a first jaw or staplecartridge assembly 200 configured to receive a staple cartridge 32therein and a second jaw or anvil assembly 300. End effector assembly 16may be permanently affixed to elongate tubular member 14 or may bedetachable and thus replaceable with a new end effector assembly 16. Oneof staple cartridge assembly 200 and anvil assembly 300 is movablymounted at distal end 18 of end effector assembly 16, and is movablebetween an open position spaced apart from one another to a closedposition substantially adjacent to one another. Anvil assembly 300supports an anvil plate 302 and is fabricated from a materialappropriate to surgical uses, such as a metal material including and notlimited to stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, and the like. Atleast a tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 32 is fabricatedfrom a material other than metal, including and not limited to plastic,thermoplastic, resin, polycarbonate, and the like.

Surgical stapling apparatus 10 further includes a trigger 33, as seen inFIG. 1, movably mounted on handle 12. Actuation of trigger 33 initiallyoperates to move first jaw and second jaw between the open and theclosed positions and simultaneously actuates surgical stapling apparatus10 to apply lines of staples to tissue. In order to properly orient endeffector assembly 16 relative to the tissue to be stapled, surgicalstapling apparatus 10 is additionally provided with a rotation knob 34mounted on handle 12. Rotation of rotation knob 34 relative to handle 12rotates elongate tubular member 14 and end effector assembly 16 relativeto handle 12 so as to properly orient end effector assembly 16 relativeto the tissue to be stapled. The surgical stapling instrument may or maynot have jaws that can articulate or pivot with respect to the elongatemember 14.

A driver 36, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7A, is provided to move orapproximate first jaw or staple cartridge assembly 200 and second jaw oranvil assembly 300 from the open position to the closed position. Driver36 moves through a longitudinal slot 338 (FIG. 3) formed in the anvilplate 302 of anvil assembly 300. A knife 30 with knife blade 31 isassociated with driver 36 to cut tissue captured between staplecartridge assembly 200 and anvil assembly 300 as driver 36 passesthrough slot 338. The driver desirably engages both the cartridgeassembly and the anvil assembly to clamp tissue, and travels through aslot in the staple cartridge that corresponds to slot 338.

Reference may be made to commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,915,616,6,330,965, and 6,241,139, referenced above, for a detailed discussion ofthe construction and operation of an exemplary surgical staplingapparatus 10.

Staple cartridge assembly 200 and/or anvil assembly 300 may be providedwith a surgical buttress 500. Surgical buttress 500 is provided toreinforce and seal the lines of staples applied to tissue by surgicalstapling apparatus 10. Surgical buttress 500 may be configured into anyshape, size, or dimension suitable to fit any surgical stapling,fastening, or firing apparatus.

Staple cartridge assembly 200 is provided with a cartridge buttress 500a and anvil assembly 300 is provided with an anvil buttress 500 b in themanners described in more detail hereinbelow. The buttresses 500 a, 500b may be made from any biocompatible natural or synthetic material. Thematerial from which the buttresses 500 a, 500 b are formed may bebioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable. It should be understood that anycombination of natural, synthetic, bioabsorbable and non-bioabsorbablematerials may be used to form the buttress material. The buttresses 500a, 500 b may be porous or non-porous, combination of porous andnon-porous layers. The non-porous buttresses 500 a, 500 b may beutilized to retard or prevent tissue ingrowth from surrounding tissuesthereby acting as an adhesion barrier and preventing the formation ofunwanted scar tissue. For example, the buttress material can includepolyglycolic acid, glycolide, trimethylene carbonate, animal derivedmaterials such as porcine or bovine collagen, etc. The buttress materialcan be formed as a sheet that is molded or extruded, for example;non-woven materials, mesh materials, foams and the like are alsocontemplated.

Additional exemplary materials for surgical buttresses 500 a, 500 b foruse with the surgical stapling devices disclosed herein are set forth incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,594; 5,908,427; 5,964,774; and6,045,560, and commonly assigned U.S. Application Publication Nos.2006/0085034, filed on Apr. 20, 2006; and 2006/0135992, filed on Jun.22, 2006, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

As illustrated in the current embodiment and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,surgical buttress 500 is releasably attached to staple cartridgeassembly 200 and/or anvil assembly 300 by strategically positionedadhesive members or tapes 240, 340 that affix surgical buttresses 500 a,500 b to the inwardly facing or tissue contacting surfaces 220, 320 ofthe staple cartridge 32 and/or the anvil plate 302, as discussed indetail below.

With reference to FIG. 2, cartridge buttress 500 a of staple cartridgeassembly 200 is operatively secured or adhered to a tissue contactingsurface 220 of staple cartridge 32, by an adhesive tape 240 positionedadjacent to and over a central longitudinal slot 238 along the tissuecontacting surface 220. Adhesive tape 240 is disposed between thecartridge buttress 500 a and the tissue contacting surface 220. Adhesivetape 240 extends longitudinally from a proximal end 260 to a distal end262 of staple cartridge 32. FIG. 2 illustrates adhesive tape 240 as onesingle piece, however, adhesive tape 240 may comprise a plurality ofsmall pieces spaced longitudinally along tissue contacting surface 220.The length and width of adhesive tape 240 may vary depending on thestaple cartridge 32. Preferably, adhesive tape 240 does not extend overthe staple retaining slots 52 of staple cartridge 32. More specifically,adhesive tape 240 is disposed on the tissue contacting surface 220surrounding the edges 248 of the central longitudinal slot 238 (FIG. 4A)and does not cover the staple retaining slots 52 of staple cartridge 32.By allowing staple retaining slots 52 to remain uncovered by adhesivetape 240, staples 50 may penetrate tissue without any additionalobstacles. Cartridge buttress 500 a is preferably laser welded onto theadhesive tape 240. Other methods of binding or securing the cartridgebuttress 500 a to the adhesive tape 240 are contemplated such asultrasonic welding, solvent bonding, or heat pressing.

For example, in an embodiment, it is contemplated that an applicator(not shown) may be used to deliver (e.g., such as by a spray or aerosol)adhesive material, while in a liquid or fluid state, to tissuecontacting surface 220 of staple cartridge 32. The cartridge buttress500 a may then be placed atop the liquid adhesive material. Alternately,the liquid or fluid adhesive material may be allowed to partially cureor dry for a period of time, so as to retain a certain degree oftackiness or adhesive property, after which cartridge buttress 500 a maythen be placed atop and adhered to the partially cured or dried adhesivematerial. Alternately still, the liquid or fluid adhesive material maybe of a certain composition and allowed to completely cure or dry,wherein the fully cured or dried adhesive material retains a certaindegree of tackiness or adhesive property, after which cartridge buttress500 a may then be placed atop and adhered to the fully cured or driedadhesive material. While the foregoing has been directed to the staplecartridge it is understood that similar alternative constructions may beutilized for the anvil plate.

With reference to FIG. 3, and similar to cartridge buttress 500 a, anvilbuttress 500 b is operatively secured or adhered to a tissue contactingsurface 320 of anvil plate 302 of anvil assembly 300 by an adhesive tape340 surrounding the edges 348 of the central longitudinal slot 338 alongthe tissue contacting surface. Adhesive tape 340 extends from a proximalend 360 and a distal end 362. Preferably, adhesive 340 does not extendover the staple forming pockets 68 of anvil plate 302.

FIGS. 4A and 5 illustrate the buttresses 500 a, 500 b disposed on thestaple cartridge 32 and anvil plate 302, respectively. As shown,adhesive tapes 240, 340 are disposed over the respective centrallongitudinal slots 238, 338 and between the tissue contacting surfaces220, 320 and the buttresses 500 a, 500 b. FIG. 4B shows across-sectional view of the cartridge buttress 500 a disposed on thestaple cartridge 32 showing the adhesive tape 240 disposed between thecartridge buttress 500 a and the tissue contacting surface 220. Furtheradhesive tape 240 is disposed over and surrounding the edges 248 of thecentral longitudinal slot 238. While FIG. 4B is directed to the staplecartridge it is understood that a similar construction is utilized forthe anvil plate. In accordance with the present disclosure, adhesivetapes 240, 340 do not extend over the staple forming recesses 68 ofanvil plate 302 or over the staple retaining slots 52 of the staplecartridge 32, respectively.

The adhesive tapes 240, 340 may be of varying widths and thicknessdepending upon the staple cartridge 32 and anvil plate 302. Preferably,the adhesive tapes 240, 340 are 0.086 inches in width and between0.002-0.004 inches in thickness. Generally, the central longitudinalslots 238, 338 are 0.050 inches in width. Therefore, the adhesive tapes240, 340 extend 0.018 inches over each of the edges 248, 348 of therespective central longitudinal slots 238, 338 of each of the staplecartridge 32 and anvil plate 302. However, other shapes and sizes arecontemplated, the configuration of the adhesive member or adhesive tapebeing dependent on the type of stapler.

During assembly adhesive tapes 240, 340 are placed onto each of thetissue contacting surfaces 220, 320 of staple cartridge assembly 200 andanvil assembly 300, respectively. Buttresses 500 a, 500 b are nextplaced atop the adhesive tapes 240, 340 and laser welded thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, during use of surgical stapling apparatus 10,the first jaw or staple cartridge assembly 200 and the second jaw oranvil assembly 300, having surgical buttresses 500 a, 500 b loadedthereon (as described above) are positioned on either side of thesurgical site. Tissue contacting surfaces 220, 320 of staple cartridgeassembly 200 and anvil assembly 300 are positioned adjacent layers oftissue “T” to be fastened to one another.

As shown in FIG. 7, staple cartridge assembly 200 includes surgicalstaples 50 positioned within individual staple retaining slots 52 ofstaple cartridge 32. Staples 50 are of a conventional type and include abackspan 54 having a pair of legs 56 and 58 extending from backspan 54.Legs 56 and 58 terminate in tissue penetrating tips 60 and 62,respectively. Pushers 64 are located within staple retaining slots 52and are positioned between staples 50 and the path of a drive bar 66.

In the illustrated embodiment, surgical stapling apparatus 10 isinitially actuated by movement of trigger 33 relative to handle 12(FIG. 1) causing driver 36 to move in the direction of arrow “A” (FIG.6), and against sloped edge 21 of anvil plate 302 thereby causing anvilassembly 300 to be moved to the closed position relative to staplecartridge assembly 200. As drive bar 66 advances distally within staplecartridge 32, drive bar 66 urges pushers 64 upwardly against backspan 54of staples 50 driving legs 56 and 58 of staples 50 through the cartridgebuttresses 500 a, tissue “T”, and anvil buttress 500 b, towards stapleforming pockets 68 in anvil plate 302 of anvil assembly 300. Tissuepenetrating tips 60 and 62 of staple legs 56 and 58 are bent withinstaple forming pockets 68 in anvil plate 302 with backspan 54 securingsurgical buttress 500 against tissue “T”. The firing force of thesurgical stapling apparatus 10 begins to break the bond between thebuttresses 500 a, 500 b and adhesive tapes 240, 340.

In alternate embodiments, if adhesive tapes 240, 340 are fabricated frombio-absorbable materials, it is contemplated that the firing force ofthe surgical stapling apparatus 10 begins to break the bond between thebuttresses 500 a, 500 b and respective tissue contacting surfaces ofstaple cartridge 32 and anvil plate 302.

Opening end effector assembly 16, after firing, releases the bondbetween the buttresses 500 a, 500 b and adhesive tapes 240, 340 in orderto release the buttresses 500 a, 500 b from the respective tissuecontacting surfaces 220, 320 of the staple cartridge 32 and anvil plate302. Upon full actuation of surgical stapling apparatus 10, a knife 30(FIG. 7) associated with surgical stapling apparatus 10 and carried bydriver 36 is utilized to cut tissue “T”, as well as surgical buttresses500 a, 500 b and adhesive tapes 240, 340 between the rows of now formedstaples 50. Upon movement of anvil assembly 300 to the open position,spaced apart from staple cartridge assembly 200, buttresses 500 a, 500 bare pulled away from the adhesive tapes 240, 340, respective tissuecontacting surfaces 220, 320 of respective staple cartridge assembly 200and anvil assembly 300.

The resulting tissue “T”, divided and stapled closed with staples 50, isillustrated in FIG. 8. Specifically, surgical buttresses 500 a, 500 bare secured against tissue “T” by legs 56, 58 and backspans 54 ofstaples 50. Thus, surgical buttresses 500 a, 500 b are stapled to tissue“T” thereby sealing and reinforcing the staple lines created by staples50.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, an annular surgical stapling apparatus110, for use with surgical buttresses 124 of the present disclosure, isshown. Surgical stapling apparatus 110 includes a handle assembly 112having at least one pivotable actuating handle member 133, and anadvancing member 135. Extending from handle member 112, there isprovided a tubular body portion 114 which may be constructed so as tohave a curved shape along its length. Body portion 114 terminates in astaple cartridge assembly 122 which includes a pair of annular arrays ofstaple retaining slots 152 having a staple 150 disposed in each one ofstaple retaining slots 152. Positioned distally of staple cartridge 122there is provided an anvil assembly 120 including an anvil member 121and a shaft 123 operatively associated therewith for removablyconnecting anvil assembly 120 to a distal end portion of staplingapparatus 110.

Staple cartridge assembly 122 may be fixedly connected to the distal endof tubular body portion 114 or may be configured to concentrically fitwithin the distal end of tubular body portion 114. Staple cartridgeassembly 122 includes a staple pusher 164 including a proximal portionhaving a generally frusto-conical shape and a distal portion definingtwo concentric rings of peripherally spaced fingers (not shown), eachone of which is received within a respective staple retaining slot 152.

A knife 130, substantially in the form of an open cup with the rimthereof defining a knife blade 131, is disposed within staple cartridgeassembly 122 and mounted to a distal surface of a staple pusher 164. Theknife 130 is disposed radially inward of the pair of annular arrays ofstaples 150. Accordingly, in use, as the staple pusher 164 is advanced,the knife 130 is also advanced axially distally.

As seen in FIG. 10A, a surgical buttress 124 is releasably attached tothe staple cartridge assembly 122 an adhesive tape 140 disposed betweenthe surgical buttress 124 and the tissue contacting surface 134 of thestaple cartridge assembly 122. As described herein above, adhesive tape140 bonds the surgical buttress 124 to the tissue contacting surface134. Surgical buttress 124 is provided in an annular configuration andincludes a central aperture 125 to receive shaft 123 of anvil assembly120 therethrough.

It is envisioned that the surgical buttress 124 may be additionally oralternatively attached or adhered to tissue contacting surface of anvilplate 121 in a manner similar to the surgical buttress 124 attached tostaple cartridge assembly 122.

As shown in FIG. 10B, surgical buttress 124 may be secured or adhered tothe staple cartridge 122 along an inner portion 160. It is envisionedthat other configurations may be utilized to retain the surgicalbuttress 124 to the staple cartridge assembly 122, such as placing ofadhesive tape 140 along the outer portion 162, or alternating aplurality of pieces of adhesive tapes 140 between the inner portion 160and outer portion 162, or among other arrangements within the purview ofthose skilled in the art.

Surgical stapling apparatus 110 and detachable anvil assembly 120 areused in an anastomosis procedure to effect joining of intestinalsections 50 and 52. The anastomosis procedure is typically performedusing minimally invasive surgical techniques including laparoscopicmeans and instrumentation. At the point in the procedure shown in FIG.11, a diseased intestinal section has been previously removed, anvilassembly 120 (optionally including a surgical buttress 124 thereon) hasbeen applied to the operative site either through a surgical incision ortransanally and positioned within intestinal section 52, and tubularbody portion 114 of surgical stapling apparatus 110 (optionallyincluding a surgical buttress 124 thereon) has been inserted transanallyinto intestinal section 50. Intestinal sections 50 and 52 are also showntemporarily secured about their respective components (e.g., shaft 123of anvil assembly 120, and the distal end of tubular body portion 114)by conventional means such as a purse string suture “P”, as illustratedin FIG. 12.

Thereafter, the clinician maneuvers anvil assembly 120 until theproximal end of shaft 123 is inserted into the distal end of tubularbody portion 114 of surgical stapling apparatus 110, wherein themounting structure (not shown) within the distal end of tubular bodyportion 114 engages shaft 123 to effect the mounting. Anvil assembly 120and tubular body portion 114 are then approximated to approximateintestinal sections 50, 52. Surgical stapling apparatus 110 is thenfired. A knife (not shown) cuts the portion of tissue and surgicalbuttress 124 disposed radially inward of the knife, to complete theanastomosis. The force of the opening of anvil assembly 120 and staplecartridge assembly 122, with surgical buttress 124 stapled to intestinalsections 50 and 52, causes surgical buttress 124 to release at theattachment pads 140 thereby releasing the surgical buttress 124 from thetissue contacting surface 134.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methodsspecifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingfigures are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and that thedescription, disclosure, and figures should be construed merelyexemplary of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore,that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise embodimentsdescribed, and that various other changes and modifications may beeffected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the disclosure. Additionally, it is envisioned that theelements and features illustrated or described in connection with oneexemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features ofanother exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure, and that such modifications and variations are alsointended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not to belimited by what has been particularly shown and described, except asindicated by the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. An end effector for use with a surgical staplingapparatus, the end effector comprising: a staple cartridge assemblyhaving a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slotand a plurality of staple retaining slots therein; an anvil assemblyhaving a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slotand a plurality of staple forming pockets therein; and a first adhesivetape disposed over the central longitudinal slot of the staple cartridgeassembly or the anvil assembly and adhered to the tissue contactingsurface of the respective staple cartridge assembly or the anvilassembly.
 3. The end effector according to claim 2, wherein the firstadhesive tape is adhered to the tissue contacting surface at edgessurrounding the central longitudinal slot.
 4. The end effector accordingto claim 2, wherein the first adhesive tape is adhered to the tissuecontacting surface.
 5. The end effector according to claim 2, whereinthe first adhesive tape does not cover the plurality of staple retainingslots of the staple cartridge assembly or the plurality of stapleforming pockets of the anvil assembly.
 6. The end effector according toclaim 2, wherein the first adhesive tape extends longitudinally from aproximal end to a distal end of the tissue contacting surface of thestaple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly.
 7. The end effectoraccording to claim 2, further comprising a first surgical buttressdisposed over the first adhesive tape.
 8. The end effector according toclaim 7, wherein the first surgical buttress is welded to the firstadhesive tape.
 9. The end effector according to claim 2, furthercomprising a second adhesive tape adhered to the tissue contactingsurface of the other of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvilassembly.
 10. The end effector according to claim 9, wherein the secondadhesive tape is adhered to the tissue contacting surface of the otherof the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly at edgessurrounding a central longitudinal slot thereof.
 11. The end effectoraccording to claim 9, further comprising a second surgical buttressdisposed over the second adhesive tape.
 12. The end effector accordingto claim 11, wherein the second surgical buttress is welded to thesecond adhesive tape.
 13. A method of securing a surgical buttress to anend effector, the method comprising: applying a first adhesive tape ontoa tissue contacting surface of a staple cartridge assembly or an anvilassembly, and over a central longitudinal slot defined in the respectivetissue contacting surface; and placing a first surgical buttress on topof the first adhesive tape.
 14. The method according to claim 13,further comprising welding the first surgical buttress to the firstadhesive tape.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein applyingthe first adhesive tape includes adhesively bonding the first adhesivetape to the tissue contacting surface.
 16. The method according to claim13, further comprising: releasably securing a second surgical buttressto the tissue contacting surface of the other of the staple cartridgeassembly or the anvil assembly.
 17. The method according to claim 13,further comprising: applying a second adhesive tape onto the tissuecontacting surface of the other of the staple cartridge assembly or theanvil assembly; and placing a second surgical buttress on top of thesecond adhesive tape.
 18. The method according to claim 17, furthercomprising welding the second surgical buttress to the second adhesivetape.
 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein applying the secondadhesive tape includes adhesively bonding the second adhesive tape tothe tissue contacting surface.